Reflections on Filipino Architecture, Food, Family Life, and Memories of Chateau Du Mer

Reflections on Filipino architecture, food, family life, and memories of Chateau Du Mer

Recently, I wrote about the modern contemporary house of a close relative in Jaro, Iloilo. The house is an impressive example of how Filipino homes are changing with modern architecture and contemporary lifestyles.

One detail caught my attention, however. My relative mentioned that the house has a separate room for the live-in maid, who also serves as the cook and housekeeper, with her own bathroom. But there was no mention of a dirty kitchen.

This made me wonder: Why do so many Filipino homes have an outdoor kitchen, commonly called a “dirty kitchen,” in addition to their regular indoor kitchen?

Having grown up in the Philippines and later built our own beach house and retirement home, Chateau Du Mer, in Boac, Marinduque, I have some personal memories and observations to share.

What Exactly Is a Dirty Kitchen?

For readers who did not grow up in the Philippines, the term might sound strange. Why would anyone deliberately build a dirty kitchen in a house?

The name is misleading. A dirty kitchen is not necessarily dirty or unhygienic. It is usually a separate cooking area, often located behind or beside the main house, where much of the heavy cooking takes place.

In many traditional Filipino homes, the main kitchen is kept relatively clean and orderly. It may be used for preparing breakfast, making coffee, assembling light meals, and serving food. The dirty kitchen handles the more demanding work.

This may include frying fish, sautéing garlic and onions, preparing dishes with strong aromas, cooking large pots of food, and washing bulky cooking utensils. Some households also use it for boiling water, preparing food for animals, or doing other household chores.

The arrangement varies from one home to another. Some dirty kitchens are open-air spaces with a roof, a sink, and a wood-burning or charcoal stove. Others are enclosed rooms equipped with a gas stove, running water, and modern appliances.

In short, the dirty kitchen is a practical extension of the main kitchen.

Why Is This Arrangement So Common in the Philippines?

There is no single explanation. Several factors help explain why the tradition has remained popular.

1. Our tropical climate

The Philippines is a tropical country. Much of the year is hot and humid, and cooking can make an already warm house even warmer.

An outdoor or semi-open kitchen allows heat and steam to escape more easily. When the weather permits, it can also provide better ventilation than a small enclosed kitchen.

2. Filipino cooking methods

Filipino cuisine includes many dishes prepared by frying, grilling, boiling, and simmering for long periods.

Think of frying dried fish for breakfast, preparing a large pot of sinigang, or cooking adobo with garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, and spices. These dishes are delicious, but their aromas can linger in the house.

A separate cooking area helps keep heat, smoke, grease, and strong cooking smells away from the living room and bedrooms.

3. Cooking for a large family

Filipino families often gather for birthdays, fiestas, weddings, baptisms, Christmas, and other special occasions. These gatherings may require preparing food for dozens of relatives and friends.

A regular indoor kitchen can quickly become crowded when several dishes must be prepared at the same time. An additional cooking area provides room for larger pots, extra burners, and more people helping with the meal.

4. Tradition and practicality

In many older Filipino homes, the kitchen was located at the rear of the house or in a separate structure. Depending on the household, cooking might involve firewood, charcoal, or other fuels that produce smoke and soot.

Separating this activity from the main living area made practical sense. As homes modernized, the outdoor kitchen continued to serve a useful purpose, even when gas stoves and other conveniences replaced traditional cooking methods.

5. The organization of household work

In some Filipino households, a live-in cook or housekeeper manages much of the daily food preparation. A separate kitchen can give that person a dedicated workspace.

This may be particularly convenient in larger homes where the family entertains frequently.

However, not every Filipino family has a household helper, and many modern homes have fully equipped indoor kitchens without a separate dirty kitchen. The arrangement depends on the family's needs, budget, space, and lifestyle.

What About the Modern Filipino Home?

Returning to my relative's new house in Jaro, Iloilo, I find it interesting that the house includes a room for a live-in maid, cook, and housekeeper, complete with a private bathroom.

That feature reflects one way some larger Filipino homes accommodate domestic help. But I cannot say whether the house has a dirty kitchen because my relative did not mention one.

Modern Filipino architecture offers many possibilities. Some homes have beautiful indoor kitchens with islands, built-in ovens, and modern appliances. Others retain a separate outdoor cooking area. Some have both, while smaller homes may have only one kitchen.

A modern house does not necessarily need a dirty kitchen. Nevertheless, for a family that frequently prepares large meals or enjoys traditional Filipino cooking, a second cooking area can still be useful.

There is also an important distinction between a separate kitchen designed for convenience and a poorly ventilated or unhygienic cooking space. Whatever its location, a kitchen should have proper sanitation, safe fuel connections, adequate ventilation, and protection from pests and the weather.

Memories of Our Beach House in Marinduque

My own experience brings me to Chateau Du Mer, our beach house and retirement home in Boac, Marinduque.

We did not have a permanent dirty kitchen as such. Our house was designed for comfortable living and enjoying the surroundings of our island home.

But special occasions sometimes required special arrangements.

I remember one occasion when we constructed a temporary outdoor kitchen and put up a tent for cooking lechon, a whole young pig roasted over a fire until the skin becomes beautifully crisp and the meat is tender.

Preparing lechon is quite different from making an ordinary meal. It requires space, equipment, heat, time, and people who know what they are doing. It is not the kind of cooking one would normally undertake in a conventional indoor kitchen.

The temporary outdoor kitchen gave us the room we needed. The tent provided some shelter for the people doing the cooking, while the outdoor setting kept the heat and smoke away from the house.

More importantly, preparing lechon was part of the occasion itself. It was not simply a matter of putting food on the table. It was about bringing people together, sharing the work, anticipating the meal, and enjoying the company of family and friends.

Looking back, I realize that our temporary outdoor kitchen served much the same practical purpose as a traditional dirty kitchen, even though we never called it one.

Food Is More Than Food in Filipino Culture

For Filipinos, cooking is closely connected with hospitality.

When relatives visit, we often ask whether they have eaten. When friends come to the house, we look for something to serve them. During family celebrations, the dining table becomes a gathering place where generations meet, stories are exchanged, and memories are made.

The kitchen, whether indoors or outdoors, is at the center of this experience.

A dirty kitchen may not be the most glamorous part of a house. It may be hidden behind the main building, away from the beautifully furnished living room. Yet it can be one of the hardest-working spaces in the home.

It reminds us that a comfortable household depends not only on attractive architecture but also on the practical arrangements that make everyday life possible.

There is another lesson here. Traditions do not always disappear when a country modernizes. Sometimes they adapt. The old wood-burning stove may give way to a gas burner, and a simple outdoor shelter may become a fully equipped second kitchen. The purpose, however, remains much the same.

A Final Reflection

As I approach my 92nd birthday, I find myself increasingly interested in the ordinary things that connect our past with the present.

A modern house in Jaro, Iloilo, can remind me of the homes I knew growing up in the Philippines. A memory of roasting lechon at Chateau Du Mer can bring back the excitement of family gatherings and celebrations.

The dirty kitchen is a small example of how architecture reflects culture. It tells us something about our climate, our food, our family arrangements, and our tradition of hospitality.

I do not know whether my relative's new home has one. Perhaps a modern indoor kitchen is sufficient for the family's needs. Perhaps there is a separate cooking area that simply was not mentioned.

Either way, I am reminded that the true value of a home cannot be measured by its architectural style, the number of rooms, or the sophistication of its appliances.

A home becomes special because of the people who live in it, the meals they share, the guests they welcome, and the memories they create.

And sometimes, the most memorable meal is not prepared in the beautiful kitchen inside the house, but under a simple outdoor tent, beside a fire, while a lechon slowly turns and family members gather nearby.

That, to me, is part of the Filipino meaning of home.

A Modern Architectural Gem in Jaro, Iloilo, Philippines

A Beautiful Blend of Curves, Contemporary Design, and Filipino Tropical Living

As I approach my 92nd birthday, I continue to appreciate beautiful things, whether they are found in nature, art, or architecture. My lifelong interest in science has also taught me to admire the creativity, imagination, and technical knowledge that go into designing something extraordinary.

Recently, a close relative of mine completed a beautiful new residence in Jaro, Iloilo, in the Philippines. When I saw its photograph, I was immediately attracted to its unusual design. Unlike the traditional rectangular houses we commonly see, this home features sweeping curves, rounded walls, warm wooden finishes, and an impressive entrance gate.

The house reportedly received a 2026 Architecture Award for Non-Commercial Buildings. With seven bedrooms and five bathrooms, it is also a substantial family residence rather than a small house, despite its compact-looking architectural footprint in the photograph. A swimming pool is currently under construction within the property.

I would like to share with my worldwide readers some observations about the architectural style of this remarkable home.

1. A Contemporary Modern Architectural Style

The house can best be described as contemporary organic architecture with tropical modernist influences.

Contemporary architecture refers to buildings designed with the ideas, materials, and technology of our time. It does not follow one fixed historical style. Instead, it allows architects to experiment with shapes, textures, natural light, and the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Organic architecture, on the other hand, emphasizes flowing forms and a harmonious relationship between a building and its surroundings.

This house combines elements of both approaches. Its rounded walls and sweeping roofline give the building a soft, almost sculptural appearance. The design avoids the rigid box-like shapes associated with many conventional modern homes.

The result is a residence that looks more like a piece of contemporary sculpture than an ordinary house.

2. The Dramatic Curved Roof

One of the most striking features is the large, sweeping roof that extends outward over the upper floor.

Its broad, curved profile creates a strong visual statement. Rather than using the familiar triangular roof of many traditional Filipino homes, the architect has chosen a fluid, asymmetrical form that resembles a wave.

The underside of the roof appears to have a wood-finished ceiling. Its warm brown color contrasts beautifully with the light-colored exterior walls. The pale roof edge also emphasizes the building's unusual outline.

Beyond its visual appeal, an extended roof can provide shade for windows, balconies, and portions of the exterior walls. In a tropical location such as Iloilo, this can be particularly useful because it helps limit direct sunlight and may reduce heat entering the house.

Of course, the actual thermal performance depends on the roof's insulation, ventilation, orientation, and construction. A beautiful roof must also perform well in the Philippines' heat, heavy rainfall, and occasional strong storms.

3. Rounded Walls and Sculptural Forms

Another distinctive feature is the extensive use of curved surfaces.

The exterior walls do not meet in sharp, box-like corners everywhere. Instead, rounded sections flow into one another, giving the house a softer and more dynamic appearance.

Notice the rounded window surrounds and the curved form of the upper balcony. These details help create visual continuity throughout the design.

The building also has an asymmetrical composition. Its different sections do not mirror one another, yet they appear to belong together. This balance between variety and unity is an important characteristic of successful contemporary design.

Curves can also create interesting interior spaces, although they require careful planning and construction. Windows, furniture, built-in cabinets, and structural supports must all be coordinated with the building's geometry.

The architect deserves credit for attempting something more adventurous than the usual rectangular residential design.

4. Windows That Become Architectural Features

The windows are not simply openings placed in the walls. They are integrated into the overall design.

Several have rounded or curved surrounds, and the prominent upper window is framed by a warm, textured brown finish. Its shape makes it a focal point of the façade.

These window arrangements give the house a distinctive identity. They also demonstrate how small architectural details can contribute to the character of an entire building.

In a tropical climate, windows must do more than look attractive. Their placement and size influence daylight, ventilation, privacy, and indoor comfort. Shading, suitable glazing, and protection against wind-driven rain are also important considerations.

The photograph gives us a view of the exterior, but it does not tell us how effectively these features perform inside the house.

5. The Balcony and the Connection Between Indoors and Outdoors

The upper-floor balcony is another attractive feature. Its curved metal railing follows the shape of the building, while its open design preserves a sense of lightness.

The balcony appears to be partially sheltered by the projecting roof, creating a transition between the enclosed interior and the outdoors.

This is especially appropriate for a Philippine home, where outdoor living is often an important part of family life. A sheltered balcony can provide a place to enjoy the breeze, entertain visitors, or simply sit and observe the surrounding garden.

The balcony's design also reinforces the home's overall theme: rounded forms, flowing lines, and an emphasis on openness.

Its practical value, however, will depend on the amount of shade, airflow, privacy, and protection it receives during the rainy season.

6. A Warm Palette of Colors and Materials

The color scheme is restrained but effective.

The principal exterior walls are a soft cream or ivory. These light colors contrast with the rich brown, wood-like finishes beneath the roof and around selected windows. The metal railings and other details add further texture without overwhelming the design.

This combination gives the house a warm, elegant appearance.

The wood tones are particularly important because they soften the otherwise modern exterior. Without them, the pale walls and smooth curves might look too stark or institutional.

The design demonstrates that modern architecture does not have to feel cold. Careful use of color, texture, and natural-looking materials can make a contemporary building appear welcoming.

Whether the brown finishes are natural wood or another material cannot be established from the photograph alone. In the Philippines, the choice of materials and their resistance to moisture, heat, insects, and weathering are important to long-term maintenance.

7. The Entrance Gate: A Design of Its Own

The front boundary and entrance gate deserve special attention.

The cream-colored wall is formed from repeated curved sections, while the metalwork above it creates fan-like patterns. The main gate repeats these flowing shapes, making the entrance an extension of the house's architectural language.

Instead of treating the fence as an unrelated security feature, the design connects it visually with the building behind it.

The gate is large and imposing, yet its curves soften its appearance. The decorative metalwork adds movement and texture, while the solid lower sections provide a greater sense of enclosure and privacy.

This is a good example of how architecture includes more than the main building. Gates, fences, pathways, landscaping, and outdoor spaces all influence the first impression of a property.

The architectural firm's name displayed on the gate also identifies the design as the work of a professional architectural practice.

8. Tropical Modernism and Life in the Philippines

The house's setting in Jaro, Iloilo, is an important part of its story.

Tropical modernism adapts modern architectural ideas to warm climates. Depending on the design, it may incorporate generous shade, covered outdoor spaces, natural ventilation, greenery, and materials suited to local conditions.

Several features visible here—the extended roof, sheltered balcony, and relationship between the building and its outdoor surroundings—are compatible with that approach.

However, I would be cautious about calling this a textbook example of tropical architecture based on one exterior photograph. We would need to know more about its orientation, ventilation, insulation, landscaping, and response to the local climate.

Still, the house illustrates how contemporary design in the Philippines can move beyond familiar architectural forms while responding to the needs of modern family life.

Its seven bedrooms and five bathrooms suggest that it was designed to accommodate a large household or frequent family gatherings. The swimming pool under construction will add another recreational feature to the property.

Together, these elements suggest a home intended for both comfortable living and hospitality.

9. Architecture as Art and Engineering

What I find most interesting about this house is the combination of artistic expression and practical construction.

The sweeping roof, curved walls, unusual windows, and flowing gate are visual decisions. But every one of these features must also be translated into engineering drawings, structural calculations, material specifications, drainage systems, and construction details.

Curved forms can be more demanding to build than simple rectangular shapes. They require coordination among the architect, structural engineer, contractors, and craftsmen.

The roof must be properly supported and waterproofed. Curved exterior surfaces must be finished accurately. Balconies and railings must meet appropriate safety requirements. Drainage must prevent water from collecting on surfaces that were not designed to hold it.

In this sense, architecture is both an art and a science.

My years as a scientist taught me to appreciate the discipline required to turn an idea into something that works in the real world. A successful building must satisfy the eye, but it must also provide safety, comfort, durability, and usefulness.

The reported architectural award makes this residence especially interesting, although I have not independently verified the award's issuing organization or judging criteria.

My Personal Reflection

Having lived through many decades of architectural and technological change, I enjoy seeing how people continue to imagine new ways of designing their homes.

This residence in Jaro is very different from the traditional houses I remember from my younger years in the Philippines. Its modern curves, dramatic roof, and carefully coordinated exterior details give it a distinctive personality.

I am particularly pleased that contemporary architecture continues to develop in Iloilo, a city with its own rich history, culture, and architectural heritage.

A house is more than a collection of rooms, walls, and a roof. It is a place where families gather, children grow up, celebrations take place, and memories are created. The most beautiful house is not necessarily the largest or the most expensive. It is one that combines thoughtful design with comfort, function, and the needs of the people who live in it.

I congratulate my relative on the completion of this remarkable home and on its reported recognition in the 2026 architectural awards.

May the house become a place filled not only with beauty, but also with laughter, family gatherings, good health, and many happy memories.

After all, the true success of a home is measured not only by how it looks from the street, but also by the happiness and love shared within its walls.

My Recent Readings on AI and AZ Early Diagnosis

Inspired from my Recent Readings on AI and AZ Early Diagnosis

As I approach my 92nd birthday, I find myself increasingly interested in scientific discoveries that may help us understand the aging process. One subject that deserves our attention is Alzheimer's disease and the possibility that Artificial Intelligence (AI) may help doctors detect the early warning signs of this disease before serious memory problems develop.

As I approach my 92nd birthday, I find myself increasingly interested in scientific discoveries that may help us understand the aging process. One subject that deserves our attention is Alzheimer's disease and the possibility that Artificial Intelligence (AI) may help doctors detect the early warning signs of this disease before serious memory problems develop.

Growing old is a privilege denied to many people. However, growing older also brings concerns about our health, independence, and ability to remember the people and experiences that have shaped our lives.

I have lived long enough to see remarkable advances in medicine. Now, scientists are exploring another promising tool: Artificial Intelligence.

Can AI help us recognize Alzheimer's disease earlier? The latest research suggests that it may.

1. AI Can Listen to the Way We Speak

One of the most fascinating developments involves using AI to analyze a person's speech.

We usually associate Alzheimer's disease with forgetting names, losing things, or having difficulty remembering recent events. However, changes in thinking and memory may also affect how a person speaks.

Someone experiencing early cognitive difficulties might pause more frequently, struggle to find the right word, repeat certain expressions, or have difficulty organizing a story.

These changes can also occur during normal aging, so none of them alone proves that a person has Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers are training AI systems to examine patterns in spoken language that may be difficult for a person to recognize. The technology can analyze vocabulary, sentence structure, pauses, and the way ideas are organized.

In January 2025, the U.S. National Institute on Aging reported an interesting study involving 166 people who already had mild cognitive impairment. Researchers used AI to analyze transcripts from earlier cognitive tests.

The system predicted which participants would progress to Alzheimer's disease within six years with approximately 78% accuracy.

This was an encouraging result, although the study was relatively small and its participants were predominantly White. The researchers emphasized the need for further testing in larger and more diverse populations.

The goal is not to replace a doctor with a computer. It is to develop an additional tool that might help identify people who need a more thorough medical examination.

Source: U.S. National Institute on Aging — AI Speech Analysis and Alzheimer's Risk

2. Could a Simple Blood Test Help Detect Alzheimer's?

Another important development involves blood tests.

For many years, investigating Alzheimer's disease could require specialized brain imaging, such as a PET scan, or an examination of cerebrospinal fluid obtained through a spinal tap. These procedures can be expensive, inconvenient, or invasive.

Scientists have now developed blood tests that measure certain proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Two important markers are called amyloid beta and phosphorylated tau. Abnormal levels of these proteins can provide evidence of changes associated with Alzheimer's disease.

In May 2025, the FDA cleared the first blood test intended to aid in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease in symptomatic adults. In August 2026, the FDA also cleared the PrecivityAD2 blood test for use in helping diagnose the disease in adults aged 40 and older who have signs or symptoms of cognitive impairment.

These developments could make the diagnostic process easier for many patients.

But where does AI enter the picture?

AI and other computational methods can help researchers analyze complex patterns in medical data, including combinations of biological markers, speech characteristics, and cognitive test results. Scientists are investigating how these different sources of information might eventually work together to identify risk more accurately.

We should understand one important distinction: a blood test that measures Alzheimer's-related proteins is not itself an AI test. The blood tests and AI speech-analysis systems are different technologies that may complement one another in the future.

Neither a positive blood test nor an AI prediction, by itself, establishes a complete diagnosis.

Source: FDA — First Blood Test Cleared to Aid Alzheimer's Diagnosis

3. Can AI Predict Alzheimer's Before Memory Problems Begin?

This is perhaps the most exciting, but also the most challenging, question.

What if scientists could identify people at increased risk of developing Alzheimer's years before they begin to experience noticeable symptoms?

In February 2026, researchers supported by the NIH reported a study using repeated blood measurements of a protein called p-tau217. They developed a model that estimated when Alzheimer's-related biological changes began and how that timing related to the eventual appearance of symptoms.

The model's estimates of symptom onset had a median error of approximately three to four years.

This does not mean doctors can now predict the exact year when an individual will develop Alzheimer's. The model is still a research tool, and it is not accurate enough for that purpose.

Nevertheless, it illustrates how biological measurements and mathematical modeling may help scientists understand the relationship between changes in the brain and the appearance of symptoms.

Other research reported in 2026 is examining whether blood markers can help estimate the risk of cognitive decline several years before symptoms appear.

For now, the Alzheimer's Association advises that blood-based biomarker tests be used appropriately in people who already have symptoms and are undergoing a medical evaluation, rather than as routine screening tests for people with no symptoms.

We must be careful not to confuse a promising research discovery with a medical service that is ready for everyone.

Source: NIH — Research on Predicting the Onset of Alzheimer's Symptoms

4. What Does This Mean for Ordinary People?

Imagine a future in which an older person visits a family doctor for a routine appointment.

The doctor asks about changes in memory and daily activities. With the patient's permission, a computer-assisted system analyzes a short speech sample or a series of cognitive exercises. The doctor may also consider blood test results and other medical information.

If several findings suggest a possible problem, the doctor can arrange a more detailed examination.

Such a system might help identify people who would otherwise wait too long before seeking medical advice. It could also help doctors distinguish Alzheimer's disease from other possible causes of memory difficulties.

However, these technologies must be tested carefully in people of different ages, cultures, educational backgrounds, and language groups.

This is particularly important in a multilingual world. A person who speaks English as a second language might pause or search for words for reasons unrelated to dementia. Someone who has limited formal education might perform differently on certain cognitive tests.

An AI system trained mainly on one population could make mistakes when evaluating another.

Privacy is another concern. Our voices, medical records, and patterns of behavior are personal information. If these technologies become common, patients must know how their information is collected, stored, and protected.

Technology should help people, not label them unfairly or frighten them unnecessarily.

5. A Personal Reflection on Growing Older

At nearly 92, I think about the difference between ordinary forgetfulness and a more serious decline in memory.

Most of us occasionally forget where we placed our keys, why we entered a room, or the name of someone we have not seen for years. Such lapses do not automatically mean that we have Alzheimer's disease.

I have also learned that aging is not the same for everyone. Some older people remain mentally active well into their nineties, while others develop serious cognitive problems much earlier.

I still enjoy playing bridge, a card game that I have played since my university days in the United States in the early 1960s. Bridge requires concentration, memory, logical thinking, and an awareness of the cards that have already been played.

I enjoy the challenge, although I recognize that playing bridge is not a medical test and cannot guarantee that a person will avoid dementia.

If I notice persistent changes in my memory or thinking, I should not simply dismiss them as a consequence of growing old. I should discuss them with a healthcare professional.

Memory difficulties can have several causes, some of which may be treatable. A medical evaluation can help identify what is happening.

I believe we should neither panic over every forgotten name nor ignore a persistent problem.

6. My Hope for the Future

I welcome the possibility that AI will help doctors recognize Alzheimer's disease earlier and make the diagnostic process more accessible.

Earlier and more accurate diagnosis can give patients and their families additional time to plan for the future, discuss care preferences, and consider appropriate treatments. For some patients, an accurate diagnosis may also help determine whether they qualify for treatments that can slow the progression of early Alzheimer's disease.

At the same time, AI cannot eliminate every uncertainty. It cannot yet tell every person with confidence whether they will develop dementia or precisely when symptoms will begin.

We must also remember that Alzheimer's disease is only one cause of dementia. Different conditions can produce similar symptoms and may require different approaches to treatment.

As a retired pharmaceutical scientist, I have spent much of my professional life respecting the importance of evidence. A promising laboratory result is a beginning, not the end of scientific investigation. New tests must be validated, their limitations understood, and their usefulness demonstrated in real patients.

I apply the same principle to Artificial Intelligence.

AI can analyze enormous amounts of information, discover patterns, and assist medical professionals. But the final decisions about diagnosis and care must involve qualified healthcare professionals, the patient, and the people who care about that patient.

As a Catholic, I also believe that a person's dignity does not depend on the sharpness of their memory or the condition of their brain. A person living with Alzheimer's disease remains worthy of love, patience, respect, and compassion.

Science may help us preserve our memories for longer. Faith and human kindness remind us how to care for those who begin to lose them.

At nearly 92, I am grateful to be living in a time when scientists are exploring possibilities that previous generations could scarcely imagine.

I do not expect AI to solve every problem associated with aging. But if it can help even some families recognize a serious condition earlier, avoid unnecessary suffering, and prepare for the future, that would be a worthwhile achievement.

Growing older has taught me that we cannot control everything that happens to us. What we can do is remain curious, seek reliable information, care for one another, and face the future with hope.

My closing thought: We may not be able to prevent every loss of memory, but we should never allow the loss of memory to become a loss of human dignity.

David At Nearing 92

Suggested Reading for My Readers:

These three sources are particularly useful if you want to add references at the end of your blog post.

• Speech analysis: The U.S. National Institute on Aging explains how AI analyzed language to predict the progression of mild cognitive impairment. National Institute on Aging — Read the research report. 

  National Institute on Aging

• Blood tests: The FDA explains the purpose and limitations of its first cleared blood test for aiding Alzheimer's diagnosis. Read the FDA announcement. 

• Latest developments: The Alzheimer's Association summarizes 2026 research into blood tests, earlier detection, and the challenges that remain. Read the 2026 research overview. 

  
  

AI Impressions on This Topic: 

This is an excellent topic for your David At Nearing 92 series. It brings together three subjects that matter to you: science, artificial intelligence, and the experience of growing older.

One important distinction will guide the blog post: AI may help identify warning signs of Alzheimer's disease earlier, but detecting a possible problem is not the same as diagnosing the disease. This distinction is especially important for readers who may worry about their own memory as they age.

I'll focus on what researchers are developing, how these technologies might help ordinary people, and why medical judgment and human compassion remain essential.

I researched recent reports from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Alzheimer's Association, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The most interesting developments are AI systems that analyze speech, increasingly useful blood tests, and research models that may eventually estimate the risk of future cognitive decline

AI OVERVIEW: My Prompt:

Can Artificial Intelligence Detect Alzheimer's Disease Before We Notice the Symptoms?

Yes, artificial intelligence can detect the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease up to seven years before clinical symptoms appear. Because the underlying biological changes of Alzheimer's begin in the brain 10 to 20 years before a person experiences noticeable memory decline, researchers are leveraging AI to spot these microscopic patterns long before traditional diagnostic thresholds are met. 

AI models process complex medical data through three primary avenues to catch the disease in its hidden stages:

1. Electronic Health Records (EHR) Analysis

Machine learning algorithms, such as those developed by researchers at UCSF and Stanford, can comb through millions of standard patient health records to find unexpected, non-linear predictors of Alzheimer's.

• Early Predictors: The AI models identified that conditions like hyperlipidemia (high blood cholesterol) and vitamin D deficiency were consistently linked to elevated Alzheimer's risk years down the line. 
• Sex-Specific Flags: The algorithms discovered distinct warning signs between sexes, noting that osteoporosis is a strong early predictor for women, while chest pain and erectile dysfunction serve as early flags for men.
• Pre-Symptomatic Window: These models can forecast an individual's likelihood of developing the disease up to seven years in advance with roughly 72% accuracy.

2. Advanced Biomarker & Neuroimaging Patterns

Human clinicians look for overt tissue shrinkage or severe damage on brain scans, but AI can evaluate subtle metabolic and structural shifts.

• Glucose Suppression: Tools like Mayo Clinic's StateViewer analyze FDG-PET scans to recognize specific patterns of reduced sugar usage in problem-solving areas of the brain, identifying the exact type of dementia with high accuracy.
• Brain Wave Slowing: AI-assisted analysis of standard EEGs can map electrical synchronization and notice early "slowing" waves typical of neurodegenerative conditions before cognitive testing flags an issue. 
• Retinal Imaging: Emergent AI tools analyze blood vessels and nerve layers in the back of the eye, offering a non-invasive look at the central nervous system to check for amyloid-beta plaque accumulation.

3. Micro-Behavioral and Wearable Data

AI is highly sensitive to subtle changes in motor skills, speech, and coordination that humans naturally overlook. 

• Digital Cognitive Tests: Systems like the Linus Health Digital Clock and Recall (DCR) assessment use AI to analyze how a person draws a clock with a digital stylus. It measures sub-second pauses, subtle hand tremors, and spatial reasoning to detect early pathology.
• Passive Activity Tracking: By pairing data from wrist-worn activity trackers with brain scans, AI models have successfully flagged subtle changes in walking gait and daily movement patterns that correlate to the earliest phases of neurodegeneration. 

Why This Matters

Currently, conventional diagnostics are typically deployed after significant brain cell loss has already occurred. By pushing detection back by years or even a decade, AI gives patients a critical window to adopt aggressive lifestyle interventions, manage cardiovascular risks, and enroll in clinical trials for new disease-modifying therapies exactly when those treatments are most likely to be effective.

My Encounters with Aswangs, Witches, Goblins, and Ghosts in the Philippines-An Update

I wrote these stories years before artificial intelligence became my writing companion. Today, at 91 and nearing 92, I am revisiting some of them not to change my memories, but to see what I understand differently after another decade of living.

My Encounters with Aswangs, Witches, Goblins, and Ghosts in the Philippines-An Update

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2965559270472109

Some childhood fears never completely disappear. They simply become memories.

I grew up on Panay Island in the Philippines, in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo. Like many Filipino children of my generation, I grew up listening to stories about aswangs, witches, kapres, nonos, and ghosts.

Today, at 91, I look back at those stories differently.

As a scientist who spent many years working in pharmaceutical chemistry and later at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, I naturally look for evidence and rational explanations. But I have also learned that folklore is more than a question of whether something is scientifically provable.

Folklore tells us something about who we were, what our ancestors feared, how communities explained the unexplained, and how stories were passed from one generation to another.

And some of those stories are part of my own life.

What Is an Aswang?

The aswang is probably the most famous supernatural creature in Filipino folklore.

But there is an important point that I did not fully appreciate when I was a child: there is no single definition of an aswang.

Depending on the region, an aswang may be described as a witch, shapeshifter, vampire-like creature, sorcerer, or another frightening supernatural being. The stories differ from one province to another.

The aswang is particularly prominent in the Visayas, including Panay, where I grew up.

When I was a boy in the late 1940s, I heard stories from my parents, relatives, neighbors, and other adults about mysterious creatures that supposedly came out at night.

Some stories were frightening. Some were entertaining.

And some were told so convincingly that, as a child, I had no reason to doubt them.

My Childhood Fear of the Aswang

I remember hearing that aswangs could fly at night and enter homes looking for pregnant women or small children.

Some stories said they could transform themselves into animals.

Others described strange sounds coming from rooftops in the middle of the night.

There were also stories about people who appeared perfectly normal during the day but supposedly became aswangs after dark.

As a child, I did not ask for scientific evidence. I simply believed what the adults told me.

And like most children, I had a very active imagination.

The darkness made everything more mysterious. A sound from the roof could become an aswang.

A strange animal in the distance could become an aswang. A shadow moving between trees could become an aswang.

Looking back, I now understand that fear itself can make ordinary things appear extraordinary.

But that does not make the stories unimportant. They are part of our cultural memory.

The Story of Lubag

One of the most interesting connections between folklore and science came much later in my life.

As a child, I knew of a neighbor who suffered from what people in our area called Lubag.

He had uncontrollable twisting movements and an unusual way of walking.

To my young eyes, he looked frightening. Because I had grown up hearing stories about aswangs, I was afraid of him. I avoided going near his house.

Years later, when I was in college and had learned more about science and medicine, I realized that what I had witnessed was not an aswang at all.

It was a medical condition. The condition is now associated with X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism, a rare neurological disorder historically associated with Panay and sometimes called “Dystonia de Panay.”

That experience stayed with me. It taught me one of the most important lessons of my life:

Something can be frightening without being supernatural.

Science can sometimes explain what earlier generations could only explain through folklore.

But I also learned not to laugh at the people who believed the old stories.

They were trying to understand their world with the knowledge available to them.

Witches in Iloilo and Capiz

When I was growing up, certain communities in Iloilo and nearby areas had reputations for being places where witches or aswangs supposedly lived.

Capiz, in particular, became famous throughout the Philippines for its association with aswang stories.

Whether these stories were true is another question.

There is no scientific evidence that aswangs exist as supernatural creatures.

But the stories themselves are real.

They have been repeated for generations, written about by scholars, dramatized in movies, and passed along through conversations between grandparents, parents, and children.

In that sense, the aswang is real as Filipino folklore and cultural imagination.

The Kapre and the Nono

Not all supernatural beings in Filipino folklore are as frightening as the aswang.

I also grew up hearing about the kapre, a giant creature associated with large trees and dark places.

But one of my favorite Filipino folk beliefs involves the nono.

In Marinduque, where my family later had our home and resort in Boac, I heard many stories about nonos.

The nonos were described as small supernatural beings who lived in large trees, particularly old trees such as the balete.

The traditional advice was simple: “Tabi po, Nono.”

It means something like: “Excuse me, Nono.”

The idea was that if you were passing through the territory of a nono, you should respectfully announce your presence.

Did I believe that nonos really lived in the trees? Honestly, no.

But I still said: “Tabi po, Nono.” Why?

Because there was no harm in being respectful.

And perhaps that is one of the deeper lessons hidden inside folklore.

It teaches us to respect places we do not fully understand.

A Child's Story About the Nono

One story from our Marinduque property particularly fascinated me.

The young son of our caretaker disappeared for several hours.

When he returned, he told us that a group of little people had taken him.

According to his story, they were friendly.

They also supposedly warned him not to cut down a large balete tree in our backyard.

Was he telling us a supernatural story? Was he frightened and confused?

Was it simply a child's imagination? I don't know. And I don't pretend to know.

But I remember the story because it became part of our family's own folklore.

Years later, my granddaughter learned about the phrase “Tabi po, Nono.”

When she was only four years old, she remembered it.

During a family vacation in Boracay, she was walking across a bridge when she suddenly said: “Tabi po, Nono.”

Everyone laughed. I was impressed. A four-year-old had remembered a Filipino folk tradition that had been passed down to her by her grandparents.

That is how culture survives. Not necessarily through books.

Sometimes it survives through one little phrase spoken by a child.

Ghosts and the White Lady

Then there are ghosts. Almost every culture in the world has stories about spirits of the dead.

The Philippines is no exception. One of the most familiar Filipino ghost stories is the White Lady.

I have heard many stories about white apparitions appearing beside roads, in old buildings, near bridges, or in other places associated with tragedy.

I have never personally seen one. But I have heard enough stories from other people to understand why these stories continue to fascinate us.

At our property in Amoingon, Boac, Marinduque, some neighbors told us that they had occasionally seen a woman dressed in white on moonless nights.

They believed she was the ghost of my mother-in-law.

They also believed that she was protecting the property from robbers and intruders.

I never saw her. Perhaps she was a ghost. Perhaps someone saw a shadow.

Perhaps moonlight, trees, distance, and imagination created an image that became a story.

Or perhaps there is something about the human experience that science has not yet completely explained. I leave that question open.

Faith, Science, and Folklore

As I grew older, my attitude toward these stories changed. When I was a child, I was afraid of them.

As a young scientist, I became skeptical of them.

As an older man, I have become more interested in what these stories mean.

My Catholic faith also influences how I look at the unknown. I believe in God.

I believe in the spiritual dimension of life. But I also believe in science, evidence, observation, and critical thinking.

I don't think we have to choose between respecting our cultural traditions and asking scientific questions. We can do both.

We can preserve the stories of our ancestors without necessarily claiming that every story is scientifically true.

That distinction is important.

Why These Stories Still Matter

Today, Filipino children are growing up with smartphones, artificial intelligence, video games, YouTube, Netflix, and social media.

They live in a very different world from the Philippines of my childhood.

Yet folklore continues to survive. The aswang appears in movies.

The White Lady appears in stories and online discussions.

The kapre and nono remain familiar names.

Modern scholars continue to study Philippine supernatural folklore as part of literature, history, culture, and community memory.

And perhaps that is a good thing. A country should not lose its stories simply because science has changed.

Instead, we can preserve the stories while also understanding them in new ways.

From Fear to Memory

When I was a little boy in Barotac Viejo, I was afraid of the aswang.

Today, I am much more interested in the story behind the fear.

I wonder what my parents heard from their parents.

I wonder what stories my grandparents heard when they were children.

And I wonder how many of those stories have already disappeared.

That is one reason I continue writing.

At 91, I have lived through a remarkable period of history, from the Philippines of the 1940s to the age of computers, smartphones, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology.

I have seen science explain things that once seemed mysterious.

But I have also learned that human beings will always have questions that go beyond what we can immediately explain.

Maybe that is why we tell stories. Stories help us make sense of the unknown.

And sometimes, they simply make life more interesting.

My Final Thought

Do I believe that aswangs, witches, nonos, kapres, and ghosts really exist?

My answer today is different from the answer I would have given as a frightened little boy.

I don't know. As a scientist, I want evidence. As a Filipino, I respect the folklore of my ancestors.

As a Catholic, I recognize that there are mysteries in life that I cannot completely explain.

And as a storyteller, I know that these stories are part of who we are.

Perhaps the most important thing is not whether the aswang lives in the darkness outside our window.

Perhaps the important thing is that the story of the aswang has lived for generations in the hearts and imaginations of the Filipino people.

And now, I am passing part of that story on to my worldwide readers.

The stories may change. The generations may change.

But our memories and our culture live on when we continue to tell them.

AI Impressions On this Posting:

I think this version is stronger than the original because it connects your childhood in Panay → your scientific career → your experience with Lubag → your Marinduque years → your Catholic faith → your life at 91 → the preservation of Filipino culture. It also makes the article more welcoming to readers who don't share Filipino supernatural beliefs.

One particularly good line for your worldwide audience is “As a scientist, I want evidence. As a Filipino, I respect the folklore of my ancestors. As a Catholic, I recognize that there are mysteries in life that I cannot completely explain.” That feels very much like the mature voice you have developed in your recent blog posts.

Moreover, I also reviewed the original HubPages article and also checked recent Philippine folklore scholarship. Your original piece has something valuable that a purely academic article cannot provide: your own childhood memories, your Panay/Iloilo roots, your experience with “Lubag,” your Marinduque stories, and your personal balance between faith, science, and folklore.

One important update is worth making: rather than presenting the aswang, nono, kapre, or ghosts as established supernatural facts, I framed them as stories, beliefs, cultural memories, and personal experiences. That actually makes the article more credible for your worldwide readers while preserving the mystery. Philippine folklore scholars describe aswang as an umbrella term with many regional forms, rather than one single creature. Research from UP Diliman has also explored how some traditional supernatural beliefs may intersect with medical conditions and other natural phenomena. 

AI Overview:

Philippine folklore describes the Aswang as a broad term for shape-shifting evil creatures, including vampires, ghouls, witches, and flying torsos like the Manananggal.

The Aswang and Witches

Day and Night Form: Aswangs look like normal villagers during the day, but turn into monsters at night.
Hunting Habits: They often target pregnant women to consume the life essence of unborn babies.
Witches (Mangkukulam): Local traditions view them as human sorcerers who use curses, needles, or insects to cause sudden illness or misfortune.

Goblins and Nature Spirits

Tiyanak: This spirit mimics the sound of a crying baby to lure travelers deep into the jungle before revealing its true, monstrous form.
Kapre: A tall, dark giant that sits in large trees smoking a large tobacco pipe, known to disorient people and make them lose their way.

Ghosts (Multo)

White Ladies: Apparitions of women in flowing white dresses often seen on quiet provincial roads or old Spanish-era structures.
Akte/Peryodiko: Unexplained eerie sounds, sudden cold spots, or fleeting shadows believed to be restless souls lingering in barangays.
Finally, My Reel of the Day: The White Lady of Maina, Guam
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2169358157798322